During C. elegans embryogenesis, myoblasts initially form two rows along the left and right lateral midlines and at ~290 min of development migrate dorsally and ventrally to form the four muscle quadrants present upon hatching (Sulston et al, 1983). As the myoblasts migrate they are still dividing, as are many other cells in their immediate environment. This means the cell-cell contact of cells during migration is dynamic and can vary from animal to animal (Schnabel et al, 1997). This situation creates an environment where the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface contacts are in constant flux, which begs the questions as to how these cells navigate unerringly to their final destination. In an attempt to identify genes mediating these migrations, I performed an RNAi based screen targeting 776 genes predicted to be members of the extracellular matrix (ECM), or one of its receptors. Using both feeding and injection based RNAi, I was able to identify three genes of interest. Knockdowns of F56B3.2 resulted in paralyzed animals with detached muscle, making it a good candidate for a new component of the muscle attachment complex. F33G12.4 knockdowns resulted in an embryonic arrest phenotype with an abnormal muscle lineage, possibly stemming from polarity defects. The only knockdown that resulted in muscle migration defects was that for lam-2, which encodes for the laminin gamma subunit. Analysis of the lam-2 knockdown, as well as knockdowns for the other laminin subunits, revealed dorsal/ventral migration defects as well as a posterior displacement of the anterior-most ventral muscle cells. Investigation of this posterior displacement has led to the identification of a previously un-described anterior muscle migration event and its dependency upon the extension of muscle processes from the leading cells.

Recently, a novel protein family, named as neural regeneration peptides (NRPs), was predicted across the rat, human and mouse genomes by one of my supervisors, Dr. Sieg. Synthetic forms of these proteins have been previously shown to act as potent neuronal chemoattractants and have a major role in neural regeneration. In light of these properties, these peptides are key candidates for drug development against an array of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this PhD project was to provide confirmation of the existence of a member of the NRP coding gene family, annotated in the mouse genome. This gene, called mouse frameshift nrp (mouFSnrp), was hypothesised exist as a -1bp frameshift to another predicted gene AlkB. This project involved the identification of the mouFSnrp gene, and the characterisation of its expression pattern and ontogeny during mouse neural development. Through the work described in this thesis, the mouFSnrp gene was identified in mouse embryonic cortical cultures and its protein coding gene sequence was verified. mouFSnrp expression was shown to be present in neural as well as non-neural tissues, via RT-PCR. Using non-radioactive in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical colocalisation studies, interesting insights into the lineage and ontogeny of mouFSnrp expression during brain development were revealed. These results indicate that mouFSnrp expression originates in neural stem cells of the developing cortex, and appears to be preferentially continued via the radial glial lineage. mouFSnrp expression is carried forward via the neurogenic radial glia into their daughter neuronal progeny as well as postnatal astrocyte. In the postnatal brain, mouFSnrp gene transcripts were also observed in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus, both of which are known to have high neurogenic potential. In general, the radial glial related nature of mouFSnrp expression appears to be a hallmark of the mouFSnrp expression pattern through out neural development. This thesis provides the first confirmation of the existence of a completely novel gene, mouFSnrp, and its putative -1 translational frameshifting structure. Further, preliminary data presented in this thesis regarding the mouFSnrp in situ expression pattern during mouse brain development may suggest a key role of the gene in neuronal migration and neurogenesis in mice. / FRST Bright Futures Enterprise Fellowship

Recently, a novel protein family, named as neural regeneration peptides (NRPs), was predicted across the rat, human and mouse genomes by one of my supervisors, Dr. Sieg. Synthetic forms of these proteins have been previously shown to act as potent neuronal chemoattractants and have a major role in neural regeneration. In light of these properties, these peptides are key candidates for drug development against an array of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this PhD project was to provide confirmation of the existence of a member of the NRP coding gene family, annotated in the mouse genome. This gene, called mouse frameshift nrp (mouFSnrp), was hypothesised exist as a -1bp frameshift to another predicted gene AlkB. This project involved the identification of the mouFSnrp gene, and the characterisation of its expression pattern and ontogeny during mouse neural development. Through the work described in this thesis, the mouFSnrp gene was identified in mouse embryonic cortical cultures and its protein coding gene sequence was verified. mouFSnrp expression was shown to be present in neural as well as non-neural tissues, via RT-PCR. Using non-radioactive in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical colocalisation studies, interesting insights into the lineage and ontogeny of mouFSnrp expression during brain development were revealed. These results indicate that mouFSnrp expression originates in neural stem cells of the developing cortex, and appears to be preferentially continued via the radial glial lineage. mouFSnrp expression is carried forward via the neurogenic radial glia into their daughter neuronal progeny as well as postnatal astrocyte. In the postnatal brain, mouFSnrp gene transcripts were also observed in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus, both of which are known to have high neurogenic potential. In general, the radial glial related nature of mouFSnrp expression appears to be a hallmark of the mouFSnrp expression pattern through out neural development. This thesis provides the first confirmation of the existence of a completely novel gene, mouFSnrp, and its putative -1 translational frameshifting structure. Further, preliminary data presented in this thesis regarding the mouFSnrp in situ expression pattern during mouse brain development may suggest a key role of the gene in neuronal migration and neurogenesis in mice. / FRST Bright Futures Enterprise Fellowship

Recently, a novel protein family, named as neural regeneration peptides (NRPs), was predicted across the rat, human and mouse genomes by one of my supervisors, Dr. Sieg. Synthetic forms of these proteins have been previously shown to act as potent neuronal chemoattractants and have a major role in neural regeneration. In light of these properties, these peptides are key candidates for drug development against an array of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this PhD project was to provide confirmation of the existence of a member of the NRP coding gene family, annotated in the mouse genome. This gene, called mouse frameshift nrp (mouFSnrp), was hypothesised exist as a -1bp frameshift to another predicted gene AlkB. This project involved the identification of the mouFSnrp gene, and the characterisation of its expression pattern and ontogeny during mouse neural development. Through the work described in this thesis, the mouFSnrp gene was identified in mouse embryonic cortical cultures and its protein coding gene sequence was verified. mouFSnrp expression was shown to be present in neural as well as non-neural tissues, via RT-PCR. Using non-radioactive in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical colocalisation studies, interesting insights into the lineage and ontogeny of mouFSnrp expression during brain development were revealed. These results indicate that mouFSnrp expression originates in neural stem cells of the developing cortex, and appears to be preferentially continued via the radial glial lineage. mouFSnrp expression is carried forward via the neurogenic radial glia into their daughter neuronal progeny as well as postnatal astrocyte. In the postnatal brain, mouFSnrp gene transcripts were also observed in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus, both of which are known to have high neurogenic potential. In general, the radial glial related nature of mouFSnrp expression appears to be a hallmark of the mouFSnrp expression pattern through out neural development. This thesis provides the first confirmation of the existence of a completely novel gene, mouFSnrp, and its putative -1 translational frameshifting structure. Further, preliminary data presented in this thesis regarding the mouFSnrp in situ expression pattern during mouse brain development may suggest a key role of the gene in neuronal migration and neurogenesis in mice. / FRST Bright Futures Enterprise Fellowship

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / A personal experience of migration provides the content for this exegesis research and exhibition titled A Long Road Home. Narratives of identity, displacement and loss, common to the migrant experience are translated as concept and inspiration for this research. Exploring an attachment to my cultural past highlights a disrupted sense of place, which is examined within the context of personal experience. Movement as a condition of migration is a developed theme in this thesis, which is described through a shared sense of place between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, Scotland and Australia. The exhibition A Long Road Home is developed from studio-based research and journeys into past and present landscapes over a period of three and a half years. Accompanying this exegesis is an exhibition of four components: Painting and drawing, a book of self-published poems and memories, after before white rabbits, 2009 [appendix i]. A self-published book of documentary photography of Glasgow’s East End, 2007, the dead end of culture, 2009, [appendix ii]. This exegesis and exhibition component employs mnemonic notations to explore memory as [re] remembering to conceptually underpin this thesis and also to prompt an emotive response. As an abstract concept, memories encompass an itinerant history that is teased from beneath the surface of the skin to extend the narrative of personal experience. after before white rabbits, a series of memories and recollections, reinterpret the past to inform the present, suggesting mindscape as an alternate landscape. A series of mnemonics invite the reader to participate on a journey that is in a continuous state of flux and transformation that moves between one horizon and another.

Recently, a novel protein family, named as neural regeneration peptides (NRPs), was predicted across the rat, human and mouse genomes by one of my supervisors, Dr. Sieg. Synthetic forms of these proteins have been previously shown to act as potent neuronal chemoattractants and have a major role in neural regeneration. In light of these properties, these peptides are key candidates for drug development against an array of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this PhD project was to provide confirmation of the existence of a member of the NRP coding gene family, annotated in the mouse genome. This gene, called mouse frameshift nrp (mouFSnrp), was hypothesised exist as a -1bp frameshift to another predicted gene AlkB. This project involved the identification of the mouFSnrp gene, and the characterisation of its expression pattern and ontogeny during mouse neural development. Through the work described in this thesis, the mouFSnrp gene was identified in mouse embryonic cortical cultures and its protein coding gene sequence was verified. mouFSnrp expression was shown to be present in neural as well as non-neural tissues, via RT-PCR. Using non-radioactive in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical colocalisation studies, interesting insights into the lineage and ontogeny of mouFSnrp expression during brain development were revealed. These results indicate that mouFSnrp expression originates in neural stem cells of the developing cortex, and appears to be preferentially continued via the radial glial lineage. mouFSnrp expression is carried forward via the neurogenic radial glia into their daughter neuronal progeny as well as postnatal astrocyte. In the postnatal brain, mouFSnrp gene transcripts were also observed in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus, both of which are known to have high neurogenic potential. In general, the radial glial related nature of mouFSnrp expression appears to be a hallmark of the mouFSnrp expression pattern through out neural development. This thesis provides the first confirmation of the existence of a completely novel gene, mouFSnrp, and its putative -1 translational frameshifting structure. Further, preliminary data presented in this thesis regarding the mouFSnrp in situ expression pattern during mouse brain development may suggest a key role of the gene in neuronal migration and neurogenesis in mice. / FRST Bright Futures Enterprise Fellowship

This research program investigated why self-initiated expatriates intend to repatriate and do repatriate from abroad, using samples of skilled South Australian workers. Due to a lack of theoretical explanations for self-initiated repatriation, this three-stage program sought to provide a theoretically-based view of how home-country attraction factors, host-country embeddedness factors, and dynamic factors explain intentions to repatriate and repatriation and how intentions predicted repatriation. Stage 1 analysed retrospective interview data from recently returned repatriates to South Australia (Study 1); Stage 2 analysed survey data and longitudinally gained data from expatriates chiefly living in Europe on whether they had repatriated or not to explain intentions to repatriate and repatriation behaviour itself (Studies 2 to 4); and Stage 3 analysed interview data from the initial recentlyreturned repatriates and longitudinal repeated measures six, 12, and 18 months after the interview on their feelings and mobility since home (Study 5).

University, Diss., 2007--Kassel.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Zugl.: Salzburg, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 2004